There are billions of stars, millions of planets, but there is only one man, Terrance McDoogal. Welcome to LIU Atlas.
LIU Atlas - Vitta
The Ludgonian Industrial Union's galaxy contains billions of stars and billions of planets. Unfortunately, most residents of the LIU could only name a handful of these worlds. In order to improve astronomy grades across the LIU Galaxy, TV2 has started a new program called LIU Atlas. Follow our host, Terrance McDoogal, as he takes you on a tour across the LIU and some of its more obscure worlds.
Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.
Note: This episode is presented in full screen. The corresponding dialogue is underneath each photo.
Doog: “Welcome to another episode of LIU Atlas. I’m your host, Terrance “Doog” McDoogal. Today, we’re visiting the rogue planet Vitta. Vitta directly orbits the center of the galaxy from within the Ribbon Nebula. The nebula is ionized by its biggest star, Lachesis, giving it a bright green appearance. The ionization also makes Vitta’s surface extremely radioactive. Why would anyone want to live here? I guess we’ll find out.”
Doog: “Alright, I’ve been dropped off at a facility on the planet’s surface. The facility is built into a cliffside. I’m assuming most of the facility is underground where it’s safer from radiation. Before we head in, though, let’s take a moment and check out Vitta’s aurora. Ionizing particles from the nebula get trapped in Vitta’s magnetic field. It is the only source of light on the starless planet, other than the faint glow of nearby stars. It’s a sight to see. Well, it’s nice to see until the Geiger Counter on your suit starts reminding you that this is a radioactive hell-hole. Let’s head inside.”
Doog: “Is there a doorbell or something? Hello? Oh, wait the door is opening.”
Doog: “And, we’re in another room with no people or indication on how to proceed. Good times.”
GIT: “Conducting security scan. Please stand still.”
Doog: “Security scan? What type of facility is this?”
GIT: “Zero contaminates located. Please stand by.”
Doog: “Security scan? What type of facility is this?”
GIT: “Zero contaminates located. Please stand by.”
Doog: “That’s a thick door. I guess that’s for keeping the radiation out?”
Clotho: “Nope. It’s quite radioactive inside here too.”
Clotho: “Nope. It’s quite radioactive inside here too.”
Doog: “I guess I should have gathered that from your choice of wardrobe. So, what’s with the security scans and thick doors?”
Clotho: “This is a prison. Welcome to Vitta Maximum Security Prison.”
Clotho: “This is a prison. Welcome to Vitta Maximum Security Prison.”
Doog: “Oh, I get it. This is one of those torture prisons, like Poena. All the prisoners here are slowly melting due to radiation or something.”
Clotho: “I’m afraid Vitta Prison is not quite so sinister. This is a special prison though. It only holds energy beings.”
Doog: “Energy beings? You mean like the Vis?”
Clotho: “Yes, the Vis are one of five known energy beings in this galaxy. The delinquents of these five races are sent here to be imprisoned.”
Doog: “Oh, yeah? What’s the other races?”
Clotho: “Let’s talk about it inside. It’s pointless to have doors six feet thick if you leave them open.”
Clotho: “I’m afraid Vitta Prison is not quite so sinister. This is a special prison though. It only holds energy beings.”
Doog: “Energy beings? You mean like the Vis?”
Clotho: “Yes, the Vis are one of five known energy beings in this galaxy. The delinquents of these five races are sent here to be imprisoned.”
Doog: “Oh, yeah? What’s the other races?”
Clotho: “Let’s talk about it inside. It’s pointless to have doors six feet thick if you leave them open.”
Clotho: “I’m Dennis Clotho, by the way. I’m part of the prison’s senior staff.”
Doog: “Nice to meet you. I’m Doog.”
Clotho: “Well, Doog, I want you to keep in mind a few ground rules while you’re in the prison. Don’t touch anything, don’t fall in the radiation pits, and don’t touch anything.”
Doog: “You said that one twice.”
Clotho: “Exactly.”
Doog: “Nice to meet you. I’m Doog.”
Clotho: “Well, Doog, I want you to keep in mind a few ground rules while you’re in the prison. Don’t touch anything, don’t fall in the radiation pits, and don’t touch anything.”
Doog: “You said that one twice.”
Clotho: “Exactly.”
Clotho: “This is the receiving center. It’s where we take in new prisoners.”
Doog: “Wow, it’s bigger down here than I expected. How does the exterior radiation get through this much structure?”
Doog: “Wow, it’s bigger down here than I expected. How does the exterior radiation get through this much structure?”
Clotho: “Well, we’re actually piping radioactive sludge from the surface into pits in the facility. This moat in front of you is actually a river of radioactive sludge.”
Doog: “You purposely pipe radiation down here?”
Clotho: “Yes. It is one of many fail-safes built into the prison. The primary mean of prisoner containment involves electromagnetic shielding, but should the power ever fail…”
Doog: “You purposely pipe radiation down here?”
Clotho: “Yes. It is one of many fail-safes built into the prison. The primary mean of prisoner containment involves electromagnetic shielding, but should the power ever fail…”
Clotho: “…radiation moats and pits will hopefully keep the prisoners contained. Radiation interrupts energy beings’ meta-frequencies.”
Doog: “They can’t pass it?”
Clotho: “Not without severe injuries.”
Doog: “Speaking of severe injuries, can we take a few steps forward. I don’t trust myself on this little platform over the radiation river.”
Doog: “They can’t pass it?”
Clotho: “Not without severe injuries.”
Doog: “Speaking of severe injuries, can we take a few steps forward. I don’t trust myself on this little platform over the radiation river.”
Doog: “Alright, this first guy is a Vis. I’ve met some of his race before. What’s this other guy?”
Clotho: “That’s a Plasmoid. They live in the corona of the star, Insolo. If he wasn’t being tractored by an energy baton, he’d probably be melting your face off.”
Doog: “Oh, fun. Let’s keep with the tractoring. What did he do to end up here?”
Clotho: “Melted off someone’s face, I believe.”
Doog: “Ok then, his imprisonment seems justified. Maybe we should lock up all the Plasmoids.”
Clotho: “That’s a Plasmoid. They live in the corona of the star, Insolo. If he wasn’t being tractored by an energy baton, he’d probably be melting your face off.”
Doog: “Oh, fun. Let’s keep with the tractoring. What did he do to end up here?”
Clotho: “Melted off someone’s face, I believe.”
Doog: “Ok then, his imprisonment seems justified. Maybe we should lock up all the Plasmoids.”
Clotho: “Not all energy beings are bad. Far from it. Many live productive lives in accordance with LIU laws.”
Doog: “Yeah, I guess. The Vis, I met, wasn’t too bad. What’s this Vis in for?”
Clotho: “Illegal migration.”
Doog: “What’s that?”
Clotho: “Energy beings are required to remain at their origin planet or star. They can’t come to other worlds.
Doog: “That doesn’t seem fair.”
Clotho: “It might not be fair, but it prevents lots of problems. The Vis can phase through walls. Should we allow them on planets with sensitive information? Do you want a creeper Vis phasing into your shower? How about a Plasmoid accidentally catching your home on fire?”
Doog: “Ok. Not fair, but maybe justified.”
Clotho: “The majority of the prisoners here have been convicted of Illegal Migration, fair or not.”
Doog: “Yeah, I guess. The Vis, I met, wasn’t too bad. What’s this Vis in for?”
Clotho: “Illegal migration.”
Doog: “What’s that?”
Clotho: “Energy beings are required to remain at their origin planet or star. They can’t come to other worlds.
Doog: “That doesn’t seem fair.”
Clotho: “It might not be fair, but it prevents lots of problems. The Vis can phase through walls. Should we allow them on planets with sensitive information? Do you want a creeper Vis phasing into your shower? How about a Plasmoid accidentally catching your home on fire?”
Doog: “Ok. Not fair, but maybe justified.”
Clotho: “The majority of the prisoners here have been convicted of Illegal Migration, fair or not.”
Doog: “So, how exactly do you contain a being like this? I mean, he can phase through walls.”
Clotho: “As I stated earlier, we use electromagnetic shielding to keep the energy beings contained. It works similar to the energy batons, only much stronger. First things, first, we need to scan the individual.”
Doog: “Scan?”
Clotho: “As I stated earlier, we use electromagnetic shielding to keep the energy beings contained. It works similar to the energy batons, only much stronger. First things, first, we need to scan the individual.”
Doog: “Scan?”
Clotho: “You would be remiss to lump all energy beings into the same category. There’s many differences, even between members of the same species. The scan gives us more biological information about the individual, including its meta-frequency, oscillatory rates, and temperature. This information allows us to make a custom electromagnetic shield for each prisoner.”
Doog: “Uh…ok. I totally get it. Let’s…uh…move on.”
Doog: “Uh…ok. I totally get it. Let’s…uh…move on.”
Clotho: “It’s not that difficult of an idea. If I was going to put you into a prison, I’d want to know all your biological information. Size, weight, so on.”
Doog: “Let’s not bring weight into this. So, where are we?”
Doog: “Let’s not bring weight into this. So, where are we?”
Clotho: “This is Cellblock A. It’s one of eight cellblocks within the prison. All look similar to this.”
Doog: “What am I looking at here?”
Clotho: “This a storage column. Each cellblock holds six such columns. Each column holds sixteen prisoner cells.”
Doog: “Those dome things are cells? How do the beings fit in there?”
Clotho: “With the information gathered from the scan, energy beings can be condensed to a much smaller state. They suffer no permanent damage during the process. Look, you can see our friend from above being condensed in the tube up top.”
Clotho: “This a storage column. Each cellblock holds six such columns. Each column holds sixteen prisoner cells.”
Doog: “Those dome things are cells? How do the beings fit in there?”
Clotho: “With the information gathered from the scan, energy beings can be condensed to a much smaller state. They suffer no permanent damage during the process. Look, you can see our friend from above being condensed in the tube up top.”
Doog: “Wow, not much leg room in there.”
Clotho: “Most energy beings don’t have legs, and the ones that do, are just altering their form to look like a bipedal. Think of these beings as a form of plasma. Plasma can be condensed.”
Clotho: “Most energy beings don’t have legs, and the ones that do, are just altering their form to look like a bipedal. Think of these beings as a form of plasma. Plasma can be condensed.”
Doog: “I see each column is also over a radioactive slime pit.”
Clotho: “Yes. Another failsafe. If power was lost for an extended amount of time, the columns drop into the pit and become enclosed within the sludge. It should prevent any escape.”
Doog: “Looks like you guys thought of everything. Anything else?”
Clotho: “Vitta has another purpose. Follow me.”
Clotho: “Yes. Another failsafe. If power was lost for an extended amount of time, the columns drop into the pit and become enclosed within the sludge. It should prevent any escape.”
Doog: “Looks like you guys thought of everything. Anything else?”
Clotho: “Vitta has another purpose. Follow me.”
Doog: “This is the least awkward shower I’ve taken with another man.”
Clotho: “I would hope so. We’re fully clothed.”
Doog: “Indeed. Why are we doing this?”
Clotho: “We must shower off any radioactive particles before heading into the clean portion of the facility. Alright, our fronts look good. Tommy, time to scrub our backsides.”
Clotho: “I would hope so. We’re fully clothed.”
Doog: “Indeed. Why are we doing this?”
Clotho: “We must shower off any radioactive particles before heading into the clean portion of the facility. Alright, our fronts look good. Tommy, time to scrub our backsides.”
Tommy: “I MUST go back to college…”
Doog: “What other purpose could a prison possibly have?”
Clotho: “It has a little to do with you.”
Doog: “Me?”
Clotho: “Yes. Your discovery of the Progenitors. We knew an advanced race lived in this galaxy at some point, but you discovered that they were still here. You also discovered that the Progenitors had become energy beings.”
Doog: “I did, I guess. What does that have to do with the prison?”
Clotho: “The LIU has grown fearful the Progenitors will return to power. They are taking steps to prepare any upcoming conflict. Where better to prepare for a fight with energy beings than a place full of energy beings.”
Doog: “You’re testing weapons…”
Clotho: “And defenses.”
Clotho: “It has a little to do with you.”
Doog: “Me?”
Clotho: “Yes. Your discovery of the Progenitors. We knew an advanced race lived in this galaxy at some point, but you discovered that they were still here. You also discovered that the Progenitors had become energy beings.”
Doog: “I did, I guess. What does that have to do with the prison?”
Clotho: “The LIU has grown fearful the Progenitors will return to power. They are taking steps to prepare any upcoming conflict. Where better to prepare for a fight with energy beings than a place full of energy beings.”
Doog: “You’re testing weapons…”
Clotho: “And defenses.”
Clotho: “The Guttula are a race similar to the Vis, although they rarely take a bi-pedal form. They prefer to remain more like a blob or sphere. They’re much poorer than the Vis, and therefore more desperate. They are commonly recruited for robberies, given their ability to phase through solid matter.”
Doog: “The perfect thief.”
Clotho: “Perhaps, but, as you know, the penalty for theft in the LIU is death. Many Guttula are set to be executed for their crimes.”
Doog: “And they’re executed by the new weapons being developed.”
Clotho: “Yes.”
Doog: “The perfect thief.”
Clotho: “Perhaps, but, as you know, the penalty for theft in the LIU is death. Many Guttula are set to be executed for their crimes.”
Doog: “And they’re executed by the new weapons being developed.”
Clotho: “Yes.”
Clotho: “Over the past few years, the LIU has made leaps forward in energy-based weapons. Crystal technology, recovered on worlds like Vitrum, has made energy weapons twice as powerful.”
Doog: “Excuse me for not listening. I’m solely focused on the being dying in front of me.”
Clotho: “I understand that it might be difficult, but given his crimes…there’s no other choice.”
Doog: “Let’s move on please.”
Doog: “Excuse me for not listening. I’m solely focused on the being dying in front of me.”
Clotho: “I understand that it might be difficult, but given his crimes…there’s no other choice.”
Doog: “Let’s move on please.”
Clotho: “The final race of energy beings is the Phantasma. They just barely qualify as sentient. They generally stay around their sun, but occasionally they get into the power conduits of passing ships. They get transported to other worlds via these ships, where they cause havoc in power grids.”
Doog: “Sounds troublesome, but it’s a little harsh to kill these little ghost-booger guys for just
eating power. That’s what they do.”
Clotho: “Oh, it is not being executed. As I mentioned previously, we are also testing various defense options. Can we create powerful enough shields to repel a Progenitor attack? Can we stop them from accessing our facilities? We’re just subjecting this energy being to a little electromagnetic distress to test the limits of this technology.”
Doog: “Is this necessary? Do we really need to fight the Progenitors? We’re their progeny. If they ever returned, I think they would seek peace.”
Clotho: “Would they allow their progeny to live in an LIU controlled galaxy? Or would they destroy the system and bring equality to all worlds? The LIU fears the latter.”
Doog: “Sounds troublesome, but it’s a little harsh to kill these little ghost-booger guys for just
eating power. That’s what they do.”
Clotho: “Oh, it is not being executed. As I mentioned previously, we are also testing various defense options. Can we create powerful enough shields to repel a Progenitor attack? Can we stop them from accessing our facilities? We’re just subjecting this energy being to a little electromagnetic distress to test the limits of this technology.”
Doog: “Is this necessary? Do we really need to fight the Progenitors? We’re their progeny. If they ever returned, I think they would seek peace.”
Clotho: “Would they allow their progeny to live in an LIU controlled galaxy? Or would they destroy the system and bring equality to all worlds? The LIU fears the latter.”
Doog: “Well folks, that’s Vitta. This irradiated rogue planet is home to the Vitta Maximum Security Prison, a prison for holding energy beings. While energy beings can be fun and useful, they can also cause a lot of havoc when they leave their homeworlds. Those that choose to leave or cause problems off-world, are imprisoned here. The LIU is also using the facility to prepare for a war with the energy-based Progenitors. A war that no one wants to see, especially the LIU. Hopefully, it never comes to that. Oh well, see ya!”
Note: Beings consisting of at least 90% energy are considered energy beings according to the LIU Bureau of Naming. Some Space Hippies attempted to classify themselves as energy beings, but their request was denied by the LIU.
Note: Beings consisting of at least 90% energy are considered energy beings according to the LIU Bureau of Naming. Some Space Hippies attempted to classify themselves as energy beings, but their request was denied by the LIU.